DR Congo: DRC: One in four confirmed Ebola deaths are children underscoring the urgent need to protect them

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Save the Children KINSHASA, 27 May 2026 – At least 25% of confirmed deaths from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are children, highlighting the urgent need to scale up health services and infection prevention to protect children, said Save the Children [1]. L atest government figures released on Wednesday show that children make up 25% of the 17 confirmed Ebola deaths - although the number of real cases is likely to be significantly higher as this number only includes children under 15, and only includes confirmed cases. Of these deaths, 14% are children under the age of 5. Some 1,077 people are now suspected of contracting Ebola with 238 suspected deaths since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, with children and youth under the age of 19 accounting for 17 out of 121 confirmed cases of Ebola, or 14%. This number of suspected cases is already over one third of all confirmed cases reported in the largest Ebola epidemic in the DRC in recent history , in which there were 3,262 confirmed cases and 2,232 deaths, 28% of which were children. While the outbreak was declared 11 days ago, the number of deaths and infections is feared to be much higher, with the probable first or index case most likely to have been in the first few months of the year, adding to concerns about prolonged undetected transmission in the community. Children are among the most vulnerable group in this outbreak, said Save the Children. As well as being exposed to the direct risk of infection, they face major indirect consequences such as disruptions of essential health and nutrition services, loss of parents and caregivers, loss of access to schools, stigma, psychosocial distress, and increased protection risks. Children are particularly vulnerable if they lose on...

Original source: Relief Web